Story/Setting:
Set in post-cold war and in Germany none the less was a definite change. It was the fact that we got to have a insight into the lives of Germans and ever mid-Europeans back in the 1990's. The watcher got to see the way everyone acted, how some lived, the technology they may have had, and the clothes they wore. A anime being set in Germany was a great risk for Naoki, and he did exceptionally well and succeeded fully. Even so, the atmosphere of several of the small towns would've been enough to pull the watcher into the plot like hypnosis.
The story is the same- different. The mystery and suspenseful scenes really opened up to the darkness of this tale, and we got to see how a proper crime story is folded out. There are a lot of subplots in the story, but they all tie together like a perfect puzzle at the end of it all. It's a shock to realize how different this story is from everything else out there. How every little detail that is shown, every line, every clue all leads down to an unexpected showdown. The normal was established quickly and the watcher got immediate action with several of the characters in the first episode. Naoki didn't hesitate to start the suspense early by using the dialogue as leverage. It truly is a unique plot.
Art:
The animators really stayed true to Naoki's style and brought a realistic form into the anime world. Who said anime characters have to be big-ed eyed, colourful-haired drawings? This show really did well to maintain the human realism design in the characters. The background and the towns of the Germany brought the atmosphere of creepiness into the show, and gave the feeling of not being alone, real. The art is truly a masterpiece of it's own.
Sound:
Watching it in dubbed didn't drag away how incredible this show is. Even the English voice actors did well to maintain the characters and didn't let it slip from the watchers fingers. The emotion these actors put into the voices made the dubbed successful.
The sounds of music and the natural background noises opened up the tension and creepiness of the plot. The gun shots, rain, and the beginning and closes songs really did show the watcher what this show can really be.
Dark.
Character:
Not only were these characters impressive, but they really did give a sneak peek into something that can happen in real life.
When someone hears the word "doctor", they think of someone who saves lives. But what about a doctor who is out to kill? Unique, right? Naoki has given the watcher something to watch by giving a doctor a dark side. Tenma, Kenzo is a character who has gone beyond the limits of what a doctor can do, by no only saving lives, but taking them away. He is one of the best protagonist out there and is almost like a superhero in a way. Naoki has even kept the Japanese feel alive by making Tenma, Japanese, and giving him everything the watcher looks for in a character.
Johan was a character that gave the show a purpose. This mysterious guy can give the watcher a headache with everything he does. He is a one of a kind, high class serial killer that puts him high on antagonist list. Through his innocent and menacing expression there is no telling what this guy is thinking, but he puts the psychological piece into this puzzle and gives the title: Monster something to talk about.
This is an anime where stereotypes are non-existent. Naoki has opened a new door into characterization and developing these amazing characters into possible real life people. The supernatural aspect of these characters are somehow unknown and make people wonder after all of this, how dark someone's mind can get.
Overall/ Enjoyment:
Crime/mystery isn't my forte which is a reason why I didn't enjoy this anime as much as I wanted to. However, it did go above and beyond my expectations and limits. With the fantastic tension building scenes to the perfect paced episodes this anime is not a disappointment. It has shown that everyone has a dormant monster, one that sometimes wakes up and causes chaos where we may be. Everyone has a dark side, and through this chilling tale, it shows how dangerous the human race can really be.
I give this epic tale a A+ or 98% on the Monster scale.
